“Affirmation shocked the audience – they were on their feet right after the performance!” – Da Ji Yuan News At Lincoln Center in 2008, Avery Fisher Hall became home for the world premiere of composer/percussionist Andrew Beall’s second major orchestral work: Affirmation, concerto for solo percussion and orchestra. Among others, the Concert Band arrangement has been performed by the U.S. Navy Band in Washington D.C. In 2004, Mr. Beall performed the world premiere of his Testament: Symphony for Marimba and Orchestra with the Tower Philharmonic, marking as the first marimba symphony in history ever to be composed or performed. Since the premiere, he has reduced the opus to a shorter Concerto, which has had performances with the Aspen Philharmonic and the Columbus Philharmonic. A multi-faceted performer, composer, educator, and entrepreneur, Mr. Beall sustains balance between the Symphonic, Broadway, Rock, and Marching arenas, as well as being the President of the Percussive Arts Society New York Chapter. As a freelance percussionist, he has performed on Broadway in The Lion King and Les Miserables, In The Heights,, Carnegie Hall with the Manhattan Pops Orchestra, and the Latin Grammy’s with artists such as Santana, Gloria Estefan, Andy Garcia, Patty LaBelle, Kenny G, John Legend, Jon Secada, and the Miami Sound Machine. Mr. Beall has appeared as a soloist around the world, including 15 recitals and 8 concerto performances.

In 2001, he won the D.C.I. Solo Marimba Competition, D.C.I. Percussion Ensemble Competition (with the Phantom Regiment drum & bugle corps), and the P.A.S.I.C. College Marimba Competition. He has placed 1st in concerto competitions at The Ohio State University and New York University, and 2nd at the MTNA National Young Artist Performer’s Competition. Mr. Beall spent a year as a cast member and snare drum soloist in the Australian stage spectacular, Rhythm of the Night. He has performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, American Brass Quintet, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Percussion Ensemble, Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Garden State Philharmonic, Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, Harmonie Symphony Orchestra, Gotham City Orchestra, Westchester Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, and has toured Mexico with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. In November 2007, Mr. Beall was appointed Principal Timpanist/Percussionist of the Erato Chamber Orchestra of Chicago. Additionally, he tours as drummer for the New York-based rock sextet, Cordis and is a member of NY’s premiere outreach quartet, Percussion People and touring percussion trio, Axiom Percussion Group.

As a composer, Mr. Beall’s works have been performed at the top concert halls, conservatories, and music festivals around the world. In October ‘08, the Erato Chamber Orchestra premiered his Song of ‘Almah for marimba, soprano, and string orchestra in downtown Chicago. As a guest artist and clinician, he has presented concerts and workshops across the country, many featuring a portrait of his compositions. In the field of marching percussion, he has taught drum and bugle corps such as the Boston Crusaders, Santa Clara Vanguard, and Carolina Crown (having arranged the 2003 and 2009 winning D.C.I. percussion ensembles). He has also written and designed indoor percussion shows for Odyssey Percussion Theater and Surround Sound. Most recently, he was commissioned by the US Air Force Band to write a work for solo percussion and brass ensemble. Mr. Beall received his B.M. from the Manhattan School of Music, his M.A. from New York University, and was a Charles Owen Memorial Fellowship winner at the Aspen Music Festival. He is pleased to frequent his alma mater, Manhattan School of Music, to teach privately at their Pre-College. Mr. Beall’s debut studio CD, Deliverance, was released on BMP Records and received critical acclaim from PAS News. He is the President of two companies: Bachovich Music Publications and Beall Percussion Specialties, and is an endorsing artist/clinician for Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drum Corporation, Sabian Cymbals, and Evans Drumheads.

Total Number of Percussionists Required :1 Percussionist(s)

Categories : Mixed Chamber Ensemble

Instrument / Discipline : Marimba and Voice

Instrumentation : Soprano Voice

Range of Instruments / Number of Drums : 5 Octave Marimba

Written for / Commissioned by : No Commissioning Party

Permission given for Youtube video by Copyright holder and Youtube Channel Owner. Recorded / Provided by: Bachovich Music Publications

"Beall has found the key to composing for marimba and soprano" - PAS News

The text is taken from the Old Testament book, Song of Solomon, written c. 945 BC. King Solomon, known for writing over 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs, called this composition his Shir Hashirim – his most exquisite “Song of all Songs.” It is an incomparable celebration of romantic love in all aspects. In the entirety of Solomon’s 700 marriages and 300 additional maid-servant relationships, his search for true love led him to one ‘almah, one young girl, one maiden, who captured his heart like no other. She is called a Shulamite, from the city of Shunem which was located southwest of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. The residents were descendents of Issachar, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, and they were known for their strength, humility, and desire to serve unconditionally. From the Song of Solomon we learn that ‘Almah grew up with harsh brothers who forced her to labor in her family’s vineyards. She viewed herself as a common girl, like the common meadow flowers “a rose of Sharon” and “a lily of the valleys.” Yet, ‘Almah’s life changed forever when the most powerful ruler known to man fell deeply in love with her, making her his only beloved. Like a shepherd, Solomon gave her rest. Like an oasis, he gave her water and safety. Like an apple tree in the forest, he stood out broadly among men. Such are the beginning images in the Song that describe her new life with the king. In Hebrew, `Almah means “young girl, maiden, or damsel”. A variation on the word is the Hebrew musical term `alamoth, which can be translated "soprano." So the Song of ‘Almah is the composer’s duet for marimba and `alamoth. It was commissioned by Charles Beall, who also chose the Song of Solomon as the text. Although the Song of Solomon contains parts spoken by the King and parts by the Chorus (the Daughters of Jerusalem), the composer only selected key passages spoken by the beloved `Almah. Love`s intensity ... love`s heartbreak ... powerful physical attraction ... this is the Song of `Almah…